CUSTOMERS WON'T BUY A CAR IF THEIR PHONE DOESN'T SYNC

June 1, 2016 by Nissan

Research shows customers can love everything about a car, but won't buy if it doesn't pair with their smartphone

◾Nissan engineer Patrick Keenan is 'the man with 40 phones' who ensures seamless connectivity

◾Quality electrical integration key to development of Autonomous Drive technology

Just how much our smartphones rule our lives has been revealed for the first time. Car buyers admit they can like everything about a new model – the styling, price, fuel economy and how it drives – yet will still walk out of the showroom because it won't connect properly with their beloved mobile phone.

A study*, used by Nissan to understand the importance of developing state-of-the-art infotainment systems in crossovers such as the Qashqai, Juke and X-Trail, reveals:

◾28% of new car buyers prioritise car connectivity over other features, such as fuel efficiency

◾13% would not buy a car that's not connected to the internet

◾20% would switch to another car brand for better connectivity

◾That rises to 41% for drivers who spend more than 20 hours a week in their car

The research has led to significant investment by Nissan to make sure phones integrate seamlessly – vital as demand for data and downloads expands. Leading the European team is Patrick Keenan… known within Nissan as 'the man with 40 phones'.

Patrick explained: 'Today's new cars have a lifecycle of five or six years before a new version is launched, but a mobile phone will only be on the market for less than two years before it's replaced. Keeping cars and phones talking to each other is the crux of my job.'

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Patrick's priority is to ensure that, when it comes to consumer tech, Nissan is always one step ahead of the game. His team uses a network of industry contacts to predict future trends, as well as ensuring that the latest Nissan dashboard hardware and software works with the vast majority of existing and older handsets.

Based at Nissan's European Technical Centre in Cranfield, UK, Patrick's desk drawers are packed with dozens of phones, which he uses to develop and fine-tune connectivity. He makes and receives hundreds of test calls a day as he works on future Nissan vehicles.

'My job is to make sure anyone who walks into a Nissan showroom anywhere in Europe doesn't walk out again because a car they want to buy won't pair with their phone,' said Patrick.

Part of the future automotive landscape is Autonomous Drive. Nissan is already establishing itself as a global leader in the emerging technology, and 'ProPilot 1.0' (single-lane autonomous highway driving) will debut in Europe on the Nissan Qashqai during 2017.

Outstanding connectivity and data integration are vital pieces of the jigsaw, and Patrick is part of a global team of Nissan engineers which is working on developing connected vehicle architectures that have safety and security as their top priority.

* McKinsey and Company, Connected Car: Automotive Value Chain Unbound

About Nissan in the UK

◾Nissan Sunderland Plant produces the Nissan Qashqai, Note and Juke and the 100% electric Nissan LEAF

◾Production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles began in 2012

◾Total plant volume since 1986 stands at more than eight million units with 80 per cent of production exported to 100 markets worldwide

◾Total investment made and announced since then is over £3.6 billion

◾476,589 units were produced at Sunderland plant in 2015

◾In 2015, one in three cars built in the UK was a Nissan.

◾Sunderland Plant currently employs more than 6,700 people

◾Nissan's European Design Centre is located in Paddington, London and employs around 65 people

◾Nissan's European Technical Centre is based in Cranfield, Bedfordshire and employs around 1,000 people

◾Nissan's sales and marketing headquarters in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire employs around 190 people

About Nissan in Europe

Nissan has one of the most comprehensive European presences of any overseas manufacturer, employing more than 17,600 staff across locally-based design, research & development, manufacturing, logistics and sales & marketing operations. Last financial year Nissan plants in the UK, Spain and Russia produced more than 675,000 vehicles including award-winning crossovers, small cars, SUVs, commercial vehicles and electric vehicles, including the Nissan LEAF, the world's most popular electric vehicle with 96% of customers willing to recommend the car to friends. Nissan now offers a strong line-up of 23 diverse and innovative models in Europe under the Nissan and Datsun brands.